James Hahn (right) is tied for first with Brent Snedeker. Hahn grew up in Alameda and lives in San Bruno.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

James Hahn (right) is tied for first with Brent Snedeker. Hahn grew...

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James Hahn carded a 6-under-par 66, tied for the lowest score at Spyglass Hill in the three rounds.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

James Hahn carded a 6-under-par 66, tied for the lowest score at...

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James Hahn, (right) on the ninth green after going birdie birdie birdie on the last three holes to go to 12 under par for the tournament at Spyglass Hill during the third round of play at the 2013 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am golf tournament on Saturday Feb. 9, 2013, in Pebble Beach, Ca.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

James Hahn, (right) on the ninth green after going birdie birdie...

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Brandt Snedeker began Saturday tied for the lead and he ended the day tied for the top spot. He shot a four-under-par 68 at Pebble Beach.

PEBBLE BEACH - Seven years ago, with his sputtering golf career on hold, James Hahn sold shoes at Nordstrom's in Pleasanton. Five years ago, in Edmonton, Alberta, for a Canadian Tour event, he checked his bank account and discovered he had $288.

Hahn made his first PGA Tour start only eight months ago. Not surprisingly, he missed the cut in the U.S. Open at the Olympic Club, a short drive from his San Bruno home.

Now, on one of the world's most famous courses, Hahn will play in the final group in the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. He will shake hands Sunday with Brandt Snedeker, the planet's hottest golfer, and try to complete his improbable journey by winning at the game's highest level.

"A year ago, I never would have thought I'd be in position to win a PGA Tour event at Pebble Beach," Hahn said. "I keep pinching myself. I'm riding this rollercoaster - and I absolutely love every minute of it."

Hahn shot 66 on Saturday, matching Vijay Singh for the week's lowest score at daunting Spyglass Hill. That left Hahn at 12-under-par for the tournament, tied with Snedeker (who posted 68 at Pebble Beach) entering Sunday's final round.

Eight players will begin the day trailing by four shots or fewer, including Chris Kirk (at 11-under), Patrick Reed (10-under) and two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (at 8-under).

The closing act will not resemble a roving comedy show, as it did two years ago when Bill Murray teamed with D.A. Points to win the pro-am competition. It will not flow with big-name electricity, as was the case last year when Tiger Woods and eventual winner Phil Mickelson played side-by-side.

But tournament officials cannot complain about the mix of sparkling sunshine, the highest-ranked player in the field (Snedeker) and a golfer with deep Northern California roots. Hahn grew up in Alameda, attended Cal - he's trying to become the first Cal alum to win a PGA Tour event - and has honed his game at Metropolitan Golf Links in Oakland, TPC Stonebrae in Hayward and Lake Merced in Daly City.

Beyond this, his story - short on a silver spoon and long on perseverance - should resonate with fans. Hahn grew up playing oh-so-public courses at the Chuck Corica complex in Alameda. He didn't play golf his last two years at Cal after a falling-out with coach Steve Desimone, struggled on mini-tours after graduating and landed a real job, at an advertising agency, before giving his golf dreams another whirl.

Then he bounced around the minor leagues, from the Korean Tour and Canadian Tour to the Nationwide-turned-Web.com Tour. Now he stands 18 holes from hoisting a coveted crystal trophy and pocketing a check for $1,152,000.

There's a life lesson in there somewhere.

"It's been a lot of work," brother/caddie Tom Hahn said. "It just makes this more satisfying, to see him come this far. It wasn't easy at all."

Even after he finally secured his PGA Tour card, by finishing fifth on last year's Web.com money list, James Hahn hardly seemed ready for early-season success. He didn't practice all that much in advance of his season opener last month in Honolulu, given the persistent December rain in the Bay Area.

Then he made the cut in his first five starts, tied for fourth in the event near Palm Springs, twice shot a final-round 62 and became a YouTube sensation - nearly 300,000 views and counting - after dancing Gangnam style off the No. 16 green last Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz.

As it turns out, he was ready.

"I have no explanation for it," Hahn said of his strong start.

Much as Points did two years ago in this tournament, Hahn is showing it's possible to play big-time golf and have fun along the way. That should make him a comfortable fit alongside Snedeker, another good-natured soul.

Hahn played his way into position by making no bogeys and six birdies Saturday at Spyglass. He gladly stayed away from the large, celebrity-driven crowds at Pebble Beach, playing most of his back nine before a small gallery including his wife, Stephanie, and some friends/fans from the Bay Area.

Hahn finished his round with three consecutive birdies, peppering all three flagsticks with laser-like approach shots. That quickly, he vaulted into Sunday's final group and an unlikely coupling with Snedeker, who has finished second in the past two PGA Tour events.

Snedeker and Hahn met briefly during a practice round at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Now they will reunite on the No. 1 tee at Pebble Beach, a 32-year-old from Tennessee ranked No. 6 in the world and a 31-year-old from Northern California ranked No. 180.